Cleaning when testing

[Ange86]

I’ve always mentally struggled with this, probably overthinking it, but I’m a detail oriented person. How often do you guys clean when testing loads? Obviously fouling that affects accuracy varies with caliber, say 17 vs 338. I typically do my initial work up in 5 shot strings, so clean barrel, random fouling shot, 5 shot strings X 3 or 4 (or 15-20 rounds), swab, rinse/repeat. What’s your take on it?

 

[Koda_]

For me it depends on if the barrel (gun) is new or old.
If new I clean after every range session, and dont worry about any load development in those cycles and typically shoot/hunt with a cleaned barrel.
If its an old gun I clean only for long term storage, and dont worry about any load development at all and typically shoot/hunt with a fouled barrel.